The catastrophic Bhotekoshi flood that struck on August 26, caused extensive loss of life and property, also affecting a large number of children.
UNICEF has estimated that the disaster hit hard around 22,100 children across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun districts.
While most of them are staying in holding centres, some have been placed in the care of close family members or relatives in Kathmandu and other districts.
Preliminary government data show that 1,233 children – 632 girls and 601 boys – are currently staying at the 30 holding centres in Rasuwa, Dhading and Kathmandu.
Among them, 21 are children with disabilities, said Ram Bahadur Chand, information officer at the National Child Rights Council (NCRC).
Of the total, 692 children, 361 girls and 331 boys, are staying with one or both parents, while 439 children, 222 girls and 217 boys, are separated from their parents.
The situation is disheartening, as 102 children staying at the holding centres have been orphaned, having lost both their parents and family members.
Chand said the data are still being collected from the local governments. This means the actual number of needy children is yet to be identified.
Since the displacement and disruption of family and community structure increases the vulnerability of the children, concerns are growing over their safety and welfare.
Child rights activists have stressed that alongside the rescue and relief effort, the government must move towards identifying vulnerable children and strengthening the protection measures to ensure that the affected children are not exposed to further risk of trafficking, exploitation, abuse and violence.
Growing concern of trafficking
Lily Thapa, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), who led the commission’s monitoring team in the flood-affected areas, said lack of comprehensive information about affected children was making it difficult to assess their individual protection needs.
“Authorities still lack comprehensive data on children, who have lost their both parents, single parent, become separated from their families, or have no known relatives. This is making them particularly vulnerable to trafficking and sexual abuse,” she added.
Expressing concern over the social media posts in which individuals or organisations have claimed to have adopted children affected by the flood in the name of providing care and protection, Thapa described the trend as alarming.
Children should not be handed over to individuals or organisations without proper screening and legal procedures. The priority should be given to parents’ relatives or other legally eligible caregivers, Thapa argued.
She urged the government to remain vigilant to protect the affected children from the risk of trafficking.
The Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security and NCRC have urged sensitivity towards children and cautioned against transporting children without coordination with local governments and other stakeholders.
To protect the children, the council has been coordinating with all local governments affected by the flood, child welfare officers and child rights facilitators.
“We have advised them to maintain clear records of children staying in holding centres and to ascertain the number of children requiring protection,” NCRC’s Chand said.
Denying reports of such adoptions by individuals or organisations, Chand said, “Extra vigilance is also being maintained by the police at border points and check posts. We have urged individuals, organisations and local governments not to take children without the council’s prior consent.”
The government has instructed the police and other authorities to prevent the illegal transportation of children.
“Anyone found doing so will face legal action,” said Chakra Budha, joint-secretary at the Ministry.
Relief must go beyond aid
Stakeholders said relief supplies alone are not enough for children displaced by disaster, stressing the need for a more holistic approach that addresses their protection, education, psychological well-being and long-term needs.
However, Thapa criticised the “relief only” approach adopted by NGOs and INGOs working in the field of child welfare.
“They should give more attention to supporting the government in establishing systems for data collection, needs assessment, coordination and child protection, rather than focusing mainly on relief distribution,” she said.
NHRC’s monitoring team also found that many holding centres were accommodating children, women, elderly people and men in the same halls, creating risks of exploitation and sexual abuse.
Children without parents or who have been separated from their families should not be placed together with the general relief group, as this could put them at risk, said Rabin Nepali, a child rights advocate.
Alongside the rescue, relief and psychological counselling, efforts should be made to trace and locate the families of those children, he said, adding, “If their families cannot be located immediately, the children should be placed in safe institutional care.”
He suggested that as there are around 300 children’s homes in Kathmandu, their capacity and management could also be utilised temporarily during emergencies and the government could play the role of guardian.
“Until they are reunited with their families, protecting their identity, safety and privacy is the responsibility of the state,” he added.
However, joint secretary Budha said the NGOs operating child care homes may accommodate children temporarily, but they must comply with legal procedures and maintain proper records.
The government is also concerned about the misuse of children’s photos and videos by some organisations in the past to collect donations, he said.
Describing the practice as a form of exploitation and violence against children, Budha said that to avoid such practices, the government has been planning to establish and operate the necessary structures under the NCRC.
Thapa also argued that shifting children into isolated urban orphanages causes deep psychological trauma by ending their final ties to their community and heritage. This is also the violation of both human and child rights.
She advocated for a community-based rehabilitation model that prioritises the long-term mental health of minors by keeping displaced families and neighbours together.
However, Chand said the children requiring protection would be kept at temporary protection centres for a certain period.
“Once their families or relatives are traced, the authorities will assess whether they can provide proper care and upbringing before reunifying the children with them. Children who have no surviving caregivers will be provided long-term protection by the state,” he assured.
Under the guardianship of the federal government, the local government will make arrangements for the children who need protection for a long time. If they were unable to manage the situation, the council will coordinate to make alternative arrangements, he added.
Writu Bhatta Rai, chairperson of the National Coordination Committee, an umbrella organisation of institutions working with children, stressed the need for immediate action to address short and long-term protection of children.
The coordination among the federal government, local authorities and civil society is important to ensure long-term legal protection, family reunification, and prevention of trafficking and abuse, she added.
Government’s efforts
As part of its effort to protect children affected by the disaster, the government prepared an action plan immediately after the flood in coordination with the ministry, NCRC, local government, development partners and NGOs, said Budha.
The plan, estimated to cost around Rs. 740 million, assigns specific responsibilities to each agency involved in child protection and disaster response.
The Ministry has also decided to establish a temporary protection centre in Thecho, Lalitpur, for children who have lost both the parents or close caregivers. The government has already prepared guidelines to operate the centre.
Education is another major concern. To ensure that children attending school can continue their education, the relevant authorities are using existing school enrolment records to identify affected children and determine whether they are receiving educational support.
According to the Ministry, efforts are under way to restore the essential documents lost or damaged in the floods.
Ensuring that children are identified, protected and reunited with safe caregivers will remain one of the key challenges of the disaster response in the days ahead.
